Ceraunian Mountains

Ceraunian Mountains
View from the Maja e Çikës
Highest point
Elevation 2,045 metres (6,709 ft)
Coordinates 40°11′53″N 19°38′20.27″E / 40.19806°N 19.6389639°E / 40.19806; 19.6389639Coordinates: 40°11′53″N 19°38′20.27″E / 40.19806°N 19.6389639°E / 40.19806; 19.6389639 
Geography
Location Vlorë County, Albania
Geology
Age of rock Triassic
Mountain type Limestone

The Ceraunian Mountains (Albanian: Vargu Detar or Malësia Akrokeraune; Greek: Κεραύνια Όρη, Keravnia ori; Latin: Cerauni Montes), also commonly Akroceraunian Mountains, are a coastal mountain range in Southwestern Albania, within the county of Vlorë. The range rises on the northeastern bank of the Ionian Sea. It extends for approximately 100 km (62 mi) in a southeast-northwest direction near Sarandë along the Albanian Riviera nearby to Orikum. Geologically, the Karaburun Peninsula belongs to the mountain range, forming the eastern Akroceraunian Mountains. The mountains are about 24 km (15 mi) long and about 4–7 km (2.5–4.3 mi) wide.[1]

The highest peak is Maja e Çikës with an elevation of 2,044 metres (6,706 ft).[2][3] The Llogara Pass (1,027 metres (3,369 ft)) divides the mountains into a western and the Akroceraunian Mountains within the Karaburun Peninsula.

The Ceraunian Mountains have been described by ancient writers such as Ptolemy, Strabo and Pausanias. Consequently, their classical Greek name is better known than the modern Albanian one. Julius Caesar first set foot on Llogara Pass and rested his legion at Palasë on the Albanian Riviera during his pursuit of Pompey. The name is derived from Ancient Greek Κεραύνια ὄρη,[4][5] meaning "thunder-split peaks".[6]

The Albanian Riviera seen from the mountains.
Maja e Çikës
View from Maja e Çikës

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Management Plan Llogora-Rreza e Kanalit-Dukat -Orikum-TragjasRadhime-Karaburun Complex Site" (PDF). vinc.s.free.fr (in Albanian). p. 23.
  2. ↑ "Maja e Çikës". Geonames.org. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  3. ↑ The Finest Peaks - Prominence and Other Mountain Measures (Adam Helman ed.). Trafford Publishing. ISBN 9781412059954.
  4. ↑ Strabo, Geography, Book VI, 3.5 at LacusCurtius
  5. ↑ Strabo, Geography Book VII, 5.1 LacusCurtius
  6. ↑ Keraunia Archived December 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine., Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, at Perseus
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